The Pros and Cons of Buying vs Renting

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Buying vs Renting in today’s market.

Which is better?

There are pros and cons to both. But here’s a couple of key points.

  1. When you own your landlord can’t raise your rent.

  2. When you own your landlord can’t put your rental on the market.

  3. When you own you are building equity and wealth for YOU.

  4. When you rent and the sewer line fails its not your problem.

  5. When you rent you are not in a “committed relationship” with your home.

Homeownership doesn’t have to be out of reach, no matter what you tell yourself. I have great strategies and resources for first time buyers to overcome the fear of buying a home.

"I am a reader"

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“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.”

– Mortimer J. Adler

Oh there have been so many.

Ones that hooked me.

Ones that I couldn’t wait to read again.

Ones that made me cry.

Ones that made me laugh.

Ones I didn’t care for.

And the ones that have migrated into my bones.

The amazing thing about books is that when you crack the cover, you have tapped into the imagination of the author. But the really cool part is, each one of us will interpret a book in our own way. What calls to me will be different for you.

There is a great quote about reading I just encountered: “I am a reader. Not because I don’t have a life, but because I want to have many.”

With gratitude.

Mixed Tapes

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REMEMBER MIXED TAPES?

Not playlists. Not Spotify.

I’m talking actual mixed tapes—the kind you made with a dual cassette deck, a prayer, and deep emotional commitment.

I found this little gem while decluttering the other day and it hit me right in the Caboodles case (Google this if you don’t remember these fine cosmetic accessories).

One of my besties made it for me in high school, and let me tell you—it’s fire before fire was even a thing.

Tried to explain it to my kids and… nope.

They’re still trying to figure out where the Scotch “tape” .goes.

Making a mixed tape was an art form.

You had to plan the playlist just right—no dead space, no chopped endings.

Song order mattered. Mood mattered. You were crafting a vibe, people. And you couldn’t just press play and walk away. Nope—you had to ride the levels, babysit the pause button, and be ready to flip that tape like your social life depended on it.

It wasn’t just a playlist.

It was a love letter. A secret handshake. A curated, 90-minute emotional support audio scroll.

So what’s the modern-day equivalent?

Venmoing someone $7 with the caption “go get your coffee, boo”?

Sending a meme that says “this made me think of you”?

I don’t know. But man…

Mixed tapes hit different.

Bright Side

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Looking on the bright side.

Here’s what I do when I am having a total crap day.

Pull up those cool videos that do the zoom out of the universe. You know the ones, it starts on your street and progresses to the next solar system in the Milky Way, or something like that!

When I feel like my problems are insurmountable I like to remind myself that I am just a speck in the universe and whatever I am going through is likely transitory.

Tuff Shed Budget

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Do you have custom home taste on a Tuff Shed budget?

Well you aren’t alone and here are a couple helpful tips to overcome this pesky situation.

  1. Homeownership is a stepping stone process. With each home purchase you will likely be getting more of what you want. Consider readjusting your expectations and recognize you might not yet own your dream home.

  2. Lots can be done with cosmetic repairs. That run down home down in your neighborhood might not yet look like a gem but with some elbow grease and money you can turn out a diamond in the rough.

  3. Be strategic about buying by watching the market with a trusted real estate agent. Is the market rapidly accelerating? Purchasing a smaller home or condo in a rising market and then quickly selling while the market is still rising can produce quick equity that can allow you to leap frog to your next home sooner than later.

The advice of a trusted and knowledgeable real estate agent is important to maximize these strategies. Reach out with questions.

H for Human Body

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Who’s interested in a used encyclopedia set?

This girl!

We got these from a friend and when I told Elizabeth they were going to be ours she was intrigued and excited.

What’s an encyclopedia she wondered..

I tried to explain the World Book collection I had as a kid. Remember those?

My favorite book was H for human body. Our set had clear sheets that showed individual body systems. One for circulatory, one for the nervous system, one for respiration, etc. I loved flipping through these clear pages and studying the amazing human body.

I explained to her that before the internet, if you wanted to know about something, you had to look them up in the encyclopedia.

I’m not sure if she believes me.

Anyway, the big day arrived and she spent a good 3 hours pouring over her new books.

Gosh, I love this kid.

Goldilocks and the Three

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The market is feeling a bit bananas lately. And sellers are not sure where to price their home. Here’s a little insight.

You have 3 choices when pricing your home:

  1. Test the market. This strategy works in a rapidly rising market because you are pricing ahead of the market with the hopes that the market will meet or surpass your list price.

  2. Price it right. This falls right into the range of what market comparables tell us the home is worth. Not too high, not too low.

Is this sounding a little like Goldilocks and the Three?

3. Strategically aggressive price. This is the price range that attracts multiple offers and offers over asking price.

There is no right or wrong answer but as the market continues to evolve strategy 3 is going to be more and more effective. Please leave any questions below.

Almost to Instead

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There is pain and heartbreak in every “almost”. I read this in a book the other day and boy did it make me think.

And so I reflected on the “almosts” in my own life, and truth be told, most of them turned out for the better.

For instance, I almost moved to New Zealand in 2001. If I had, I know for sure I would not be here, writing this message to you today.

Maybe its all about perspective. In place of lamenting the “almost” you find the beauty in the path you DID take.

Turn the pain and heartbreak of the “almost” to the joy and beauty of the “instead”.

I would love to hear about some of your “almost” and “instead” moments.

With gratitude.

Feeling Cramped?

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You bought your first home! You were feeling like you were on Cloud 9.

You had so many great ideas on your Pinterest board to make this place your own. From the cubbies for coats and boots to the chalkboard walls in the kids rooms.

But now several years have gone by and nothing has changed.

Your space is feeling cramped and tight and you are dreaming of a new home.

But how could you swing it?

Everyone knows this market is nuts!

Your current home would be sold in a heartbeat and finding a replacement would be impossible!

Prices have gone up so much, it wouldn’t make sense to buy a new home.

Does this sound like you? If so, we need to talk..

If so, we need to talk. I’ve got proven strategies to help you with this kind of move. Please reach out for a free copy of my Pathway to Peace guide or with any questions.

Have You Had Stitches?

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When I was 12 years old some kid from Jersey skied over my head.

This was way before everyone wore helmets so you can imagine it was not pretty. I got to take a ride in the ski patrol sled to the bottom of the hill and a trip in the ambulance to the hospital.

The kid from Jersey was freaking out and wanted to know if I was going to sue him. I am not even sure I knew what that was at 12.

I have about 25 stitches in my head as my battle wound. Luckily that is about the worst accident I have ever had.

How about you, have you ever had stitches?

Perfect Design

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This morning my youngest climbed in to bed with me for a quick snuggle before school. As I marveled at this perfect human being, I realized how divinely we have been created.

The folded arm of a parent is a perfect pillow for a snuggling child.

The distance between a mothers shoulder and elbow is perfect for cradling a nursing infant.

The distance between a child’s hip, knee and ankle is perfect for riding on a fathers shoulders.

And a child fits perfectly into the shape of a sleeping parent for the best cuddles.

God made us to need each other. He made us to be together. He made our bodies and minds perfectly paired so that we could coexist with love, support and compassion. Not by chance, but by perfect design.

I am so grateful for my family - they are what matters most.

Mesa Verde

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Bucket list.

Mesa Verde

It’s hard to believe I have lived in this amazing state my entire life and have never been to this incredible place.

If you find yourself near the Four Corners region this is so worth a visit. We did a tour of Long House with a park ranger and it was fascinating. I had no idea these ancient people were farmers!

Tell me about something on your Bucket List. Maybe something you’ve done or hope to do.

What Are Buyers Looking For?

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Low to no inventory.

Yep, that is the current state of affairs in the real estate market. We have way more buyers than we do houses.

So what are buyers looking for?

Well anything at this point because they can’t be picky, but here are the most common things I hear:

  1. At least 3 bedroom

  2. Under $500K

  3. Something that doesn’t need a ton of work

  4. Master bedroom

  5. Second living room

If you are curious about selling and what your home might be worth please reach out. I will listen to your needs and goals and give you sound advice.

Real Estate - Long Term Strategy

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We all know the media loves a sensational story and there have been plenty surrounding the real estate market. Lately there has been lots of talk about interest rates and why now is not a good time to buy…

But when we compare what the talking heads SAY is going to happen compared to what has ACTUALLY happened the outcome is very different.

The following example starts with a buyer looking at a home valued at $300,000

  • Oct 2015 “Housing today- a bubble larger than 2006” - we saw 5.1% appreciation - home is now worth $315,000

  • Aug 2016 “We’re in a housing bubble” - we saw 5.4% appreciation - home is now worth $332,000

  • Nov 2017 “Homeownership doesn’t build wealth, a study finds” - we saw 6.1% appreciation- home is now worth $353,000

  • Sept 2018 “It’s better to rent than buy in today’s housing market” - we saw 4.1% appreciation - home is now worth $367,000

  • July 2019 “The housing market is about to shift in a bad way for buyers” - we saw 4.0% appreciation- home is now worth $382,000

  • Dec 2019 “Next year will be hard on the housing market, especially in big cities” - we saw 16% appreciation in 2020- home is now worth $443,000

  • July 2021 “Housing boom is over as new home sales fall to pandemic lows” - we saw 18% appreciation - home is now worth $523,000

Had fear consumed this buyer back in 2015 they would’ve lost out on $223,000 of increased value, not to mention the seven years of payments made on the mortgage creating even more equity.

Remember, the interest rate on rent is 100%….

Make your financial decisions based on logic, reason and expert opinions. Don’t make decisions based on fear as you may miss out on big opportunities.

Real estate continues to be rated as one of the BEST long term wealth strategies.

Questions? Leave them in the chat or DM me. You don’t have to do this alone.



Determining A Home's Value

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Hunting for unicorns.

I’m having lots of conversations with both buyers and sellers about pricing these days.

The market is feeling strange right now and I think the level of uncertainty has some of my clients feeling a little off kilter.

But there is no reason for confusion.

Even in a crazy market like this there’s still the “magic number”.

What’s the magic number you might ask? Its the price that yields a number at or above market value in the shortest amount of time.

Sometimes sellers will tell me that they want to price higher because someone out there might “just have to own their home” and will pay over market value.

Buyers will tell me that just maybe there’s a seller out there who would be willing to take a 50% discount off their asking price.

Sounds like hunting for unicorns if you ask me!

Here’s the truth.

The MARKET will determine the value and homes that are priced right will sell very quickly to buyers who are thrilled to be purchasing.

Sounds like a win-win for everyone.

A Story of Patience

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A hunk of clay. Soft, malleable and unassuming.

Yet, center that piece of clay on the wheel and with careful movements and patience you can create a masterpiece.

I took pottery in college, this is one of my creations.

It was probably my very favorite class…. ever.

One thing you need to know about pottery - you CANNOT be in a rush. See, if you don’t get the clay centered you have no chance of making anything but a mess.

As a twenty something I didn’t know much about “being present” or “finding inner peace”. But I do know that when I sat at the wheel with the clay swirling between my hands that I went to another place.

I would lose track of time, and the room would go dim and quiet.

Just me and the clay.

Only after many failures do you know the moment the clay is ready to become something else.

Ready to become something that is imagined in your mind and flows from your hands into the clay.

Even if you don’t consider yourself “artsy” or “creative” if you ever have a chance to give pottery a whirl I would so recommend it (pun intended).

But as I said you will have to have patience, something all of us could practice more of.